JP4390059B2 - Steam engine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam engine configured to cause flow displacement in a liquid in a pipe by repeatedly performing vaporization by heating and liquefaction by cooling of the liquid enclosed in the pipe.

Conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is known that there is an apparatus configured to extract energy by repeatedly generating vaporization and liquefaction of a fluid.
In this apparatus, the volatile fluid enclosed in the heating chamber is heated and vaporized, and the vaporized fluid is raised through a conduit arranged in the vertical direction. And in the cooling chamber provided in the raised location, the vaporized fluid is cooled and liquefied. The liquefied fluid descends through the conduit and returns to the heating chamber. In this apparatus, an object such as a magnetic body is arranged in the fluid circulation generated in the apparatus in this way, thereby inducing movement of the object. And electromotive force is produced in the coil arrange | positioned outside by that and electric energy is taken out.

On the other hand, the present applicant has filed a patent application for a technique disclosing a steam engine having the following configuration (see Patent Document 2).
The steam engine 500 has a configuration shown in FIG.

  That is, the steam engine 500 includes a pipe 502 having a substantially U-shaped fluid passage in which liquid is enclosed, a heater 504 that heats the liquid in the pipe 502, and steam that is vaporized by heating in the heater 504. A cooler 506 that cools the battery and an output unit 508.

  The output unit 508 includes a cylinder 510, a piston 512 configured to reciprocate within the cylinder 510, a movable unit 514 having one end connected to the piston 512, and a spring material 516 disposed at the other end of the movable unit 514. . The piston 512 is configured to reciprocate in the cylinder 510 in accordance with the pressure received from the fluid in the pipe 502.

  In the steam engine 500, when the liquid in the pipe 502 is heated by the heater 504 to boil and vaporize, volume expansion occurs in the fluid in the pipe 502. Next, the vapor | steam which vaporizes with the heater 504 moves below, is cooled with the cooler 506, and is liquefied. At this time, the fluid volume in the tube 502 is contracted. The piston 512 and the movable part 514 in the output part 508 perform a reciprocating motion by receiving a liquid level change (flow displacement) due to the expansion and contraction of the fluid volume generated in the pipe 502 in this way as a pressure change.

Therefore, for example, if a permanent magnet is attached to the movable portion 514 and a coil is disposed so as to face the permanent magnet, an electromotive force is generated in the coil due to the reciprocating motion of the piston 512 and the movable portion 514, and power is generated. It will be.
JP-A-7-180649 JP 2004-84523 A

Incidentally, in the steam engine 500 shown in FIG. 9, the heater 504 is disposed above the cooler 506.
Therefore, in the steam engine 500, when the steam engine 500 is stopped, the liquid level is received from the heater 504 in the portion of the pipe 502 where the heater 504 and the cooler 506 are disposed. In some cases, it may not exist in the region to be formed (see “Liquid Level” in FIG. 9).

However, when the liquid level is in such a state, the steam engine 500 may not be started properly.
That is, first, as a starting method of the steam engine 500, for example, the temperature increase in the heater 504 portion and the temperature decrease in the cooler 506 portion are started, and the liquid in the pipe 502 is heated by the heater 504 and the cooler is cooled. It is conceivable that the cooling of the vapor in the tube 502 by 506 is started.

  However, even if the temperature rise of the heater 504 portion and the temperature drop of the cooler 506 portion are started in a state where the liquid level in the tube 502 does not exist in the region where heat supply from the heater 504 is received, the tube Since vaporization of liquid does not occur favorably in 502, the steam engine 500 is not suitably started.

  Therefore, the present invention is preferably started in a steam engine configured to cause flow displacement in the liquid in the pipe by repeatedly performing vaporization by heating and liquefaction by cooling of the liquid sealed in the pipe. The purpose is to make it.

In order to achieve the above object, a steam engine of the present invention includes a tube in which a liquid is enclosed, a heater that heats the liquid in the tube, and a cooler that cools the vapor formed by vaporization of the liquid by heating in the heater. , Having a piston that reciprocates between one end inside the tube and the other end opposite the tube inside in a state facing the liquid in the tube, and by vaporizing the liquid by heating in the heater and cooling in the cooler An output unit that extracts, as mechanical energy, a flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by the liquefaction of the steam, and a piston control unit that performs drive control of the piston are provided.

In this steam engine, the heater, the cooler, and the output unit are arranged in the order of the heater, the cooler, and the output unit on a pipeline formed by the pipes .

  Therefore, in this steam engine, liquid is vaporized by heating in the heater, and volume expansion occurs in the fluid in the pipe. On the other hand, the vaporized steam is disposed between the heater and the output unit. As a result of being cooled and liquefied by this, volume contraction occurs in the fluid in the tube. In the output portion, mechanical energy is extracted by reciprocating the piston in accordance with the flow displacement caused by the expansion / contraction of the fluid volume.

And the steam engine of this invention is comprised so that a liquid may exist in the part in the pipe | tube heated by a heater by arrange | positioning a piston to the one end side inside a pipe | tube. Further, the piston control means performs a drive control of reciprocating the piston between one end inside the pipe and the other end opposite to the pipe inside for a predetermined time when the steam engine is started. By being arranged on one end side inside the tube, the liquid is present in the portion in the tube heated by the heater. Furthermore, by disposing the piston on one end side inside the pipe when the steam engine is stopped, the piston position is set so that the liquid is present in the part heated by the heater when the steam engine is started. Means.

Therefore, according to the steam engine of the present invention, the steam engine is preferably started.
That is, first, in the steam engine of the present invention, as described above, the liquid is present in the portion in the pipe heated by the heater by performing the drive control in which the piston control means reciprocally drives the piston at the time of starting. To be.

  Therefore, for example, if the temperature rise of the heater is started in order to start the steam engine, the liquid located in the portion in the tube heated by the heater can be vaporized. When steam is generated in the pipe in this way, volume expansion occurs in the fluid in the pipe. Further, the vapor is cooled and liquefied by the cooler in which the temperature starts to be reduced, so that volume contraction occurs in the fluid in the pipe.

  That is, as in the present invention, if the liquid in the tube is suitably vaporized by supplying heat from the heater, the fluid volume can be expanded and contracted in the tube. That is, the steam engine is preferably started.

Further, in the configuration including the piston control means as described above, the piston control means may directly generate the driving force of the piston and transmit it to the piston. Further, the piston control means may perform control for transmitting the driving force generated at a part different from the piston control means to the piston. Among these, examples of the latter embodiment include the following.

  That is, in this case, the steam engine of the present invention is configured so that the driving force generating means for generating the driving force of the piston and the transmission state of the driving force from the driving force generating means to the piston can be turned on or off. And a linked mechanism. In this aspect, the piston control means may perform switching control of the link mechanism to the on state or the off state.

  Here, the driving force generating means is not limited to a specific one as long as it is configured to generate the driving force of the piston, but the driving force generating means may be configured to perform exhaust heat treatment during driving. good.

  When the driving force generating means performs exhaust heat treatment in this way, the heater is configured to heat the liquid in the pipe using the exhaust heat of the driving force generating means. Is desirable.

In this way, for example, the steam engine can be driven more efficiently than when the heat is generated by the heater itself and the generated heat is supplied to the liquid in the pipe.
By the way, the timing and content of piston drive control performed by the piston control means are not limited to specific ones.

  However, in order to make the control performed by the piston control means more suitable, for example, the piston control means is configured so that the piston drive control is performed using parameters suitable for predicting the state of the steam engine. It is desirable.

  As such an example, for example, the steam engine of the present invention is provided with temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of at least one of the heater and the portion in the pipe heated by the heater, and the piston control means One configured to perform piston drive control based on the temperature detected by the detecting means is conceivable.

  By doing so, the piston drive control executed by the piston control means is suitable for the state of the steam engine by the amount that the piston control means executes the piston drive control using the temperature detected by the temperature detection means. Can correspond to

  In this case, the piston control means may be further configured as follows. That is, the piston control means preliminarily sets the temperature detected by the temperature detection means as a temperature at which continuous reciprocating motion occurs in the piston due to flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by heating in the heater and cooling in the cooler. When it is detected that a predetermined temperature has been reached, control may be performed to drive the piston for a predetermined time.

  In this way, after the piston drive control is performed by the piston control means, a continuous reciprocating motion is generated in the piston by the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe due to the heating in the heater and the cooling in the cooler. Yes. That is, the steam engine is more preferably started.

In addition, as another example in which the piston control means can perform drive control of the piston using parameters suitable for predicting the state of the steam engine, for example, the following can be considered.
That is, for example, the steam engine of the present invention is provided with pressure detection means for detecting the pressure in the pipe, and the piston control means is configured to perform piston drive control based on the pressure detected by the pressure detection means. Things can be considered.

  By doing so, the piston drive control executed by the piston control means is suitable for the state of the steam engine by the amount that the piston control means executes the piston drive control using the pressure detected by the pressure detection means. Can correspond to

  In this case, the piston control means may be further configured as follows. In other words, the piston control means preliminarily determines the pressure detected by the pressure detection means as the pressure at which continuous reciprocating motion occurs in the piston due to the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by heating in the heater and cooling in the cooler. When it is detected that a predetermined pressure has been reached, control may be performed to drive the piston for a predetermined time.

  In this way, after the piston drive control is performed by the piston control means, a continuous reciprocating motion is generated in the piston by the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe due to the heating in the heater and the cooling in the cooler. Yes. That is, the steam engine is more preferably started.

Further, as another example in which the piston control means can perform the drive control of the piston using a parameter suitable for predicting the state of the steam engine, for example, the following can be considered.
That is, for example, the piston control means performs control for driving the piston for a predetermined time when detecting that a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the temperature raising control of the heater. Also good.

  In this case, for example, by setting the “predetermined time”, which is the detection target of the piston control means, to a time suitable for suitably starting the steam engine, the steam engine is preferably started. Will be. That is, the piston drive control executed by the piston control means can suitably correspond to the state of the steam engine.

  In this case, the “predetermined time” to be detected by the piston control means is, for example, the elapsed time since the start of the temperature rise control of the heater, and the heating in the heater and the cooler A predetermined time may be set as the elapsed time during which the temperature of the heater is raised to such an extent that continuous reciprocation of the piston occurs due to the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by cooling.

  In this way, after the piston drive control is performed by the piston control means, a continuous reciprocating motion is generated in the piston by the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe due to the heating in the heater and the cooling in the cooler. Yes. That is, the steam engine is more preferably started.

Further, if the piston position setting means is provided , at the time of starting the steam engine, the liquid exists in the portion in the pipe heated by the heater. Therefore, for example, if the temperature rise of the heater is started in order to start the steam engine, the liquid located in the portion in the pipe heated by the heater can be vaporized. When steam is generated in the pipe in this way, volume expansion occurs in the fluid in the pipe. Further, the vapor is cooled and liquefied by the cooler in which the temperature starts to be reduced, so that volume contraction occurs in the fluid in the pipe.

That is, in this case, expansion / contraction of the fluid volume can be suitably generated in the pipe. That is, the steam engine is preferably started.
In the present invention, the piston position setting means performs the control to hold the position of the piston after the piston is arranged on one end side inside the pipe when the steam engine is stopped. It is preferable that the liquid be present in the portion in the tube heated by the heater.

  In this way, when the steam engine is started, the liquid is more surely present in the portion in the pipe heated by the heater. Therefore, in this case, for example, in order to start the steam engine, the steam engine is started more suitably by performing control for starting the temperature rise of the heater.

  On the other hand, in the steam engine of the present invention, when the steam engine is stopped, the piston is disposed at one end side inside the pipe by its own weight, so that when the steam engine is started, the steam engine is heated by a heater. You may be comprised so that a liquid may exist in a part.

  In this case, even when no special control processing is performed, at the time of starting the steam engine, the liquid exists in a portion in the pipe heated by the heater. Therefore, for example, if the temperature rise of the heater is started in order to start the steam engine, the liquid located in the portion in the pipe heated by the heater can be vaporized. When steam is generated in the pipe in this way, volume expansion occurs in the fluid in the pipe. Further, the vapor is cooled and liquefied by the cooler in which the temperature starts to be reduced, so that volume contraction occurs in the fluid in the pipe.

That is, in this case, expansion / contraction of the fluid volume can be suitably generated in the pipe. That is, the steam engine is preferably started.
Here, when the piston position setting means is provided as described above, or when the piston is disposed on one end side inside the pipe by its own weight when the steam engine is stopped, the following aspect may be taken. good.

  That is, the steam engine of the present invention may further include a piston holding unit that performs control to hold at least a state in which the piston is disposed on one end side inside the pipe when the steam engine is started.

  In this way, compared with the case where the piston holding means is not provided, at the time of starting the steam engine, the liquid exists in a portion in the pipe heated by the heater for a relatively long time. Therefore, for example, if the temperature rise of the heater is started in order to start the steam engine, the liquid located in the portion in the tube heated by the heater can be more reliably vaporized. Then, after steam is generated in the pipe and volume expansion occurs in the fluid in the pipe, the steam in the pipe is cooled and liquefied by the cooler, so that volume contraction occurs in the fluid in the pipe.

That is, in this case, expansion / contraction of the fluid volume can be more reliably generated in the pipe. That is, the start of the steam engine is further suitably performed.
By the way, after the piston holding control performed by the piston holding means, for example, how to perform the control for releasing the holding of the piston is not limited to a specific mode.

  However, in order to make the start of the steam engine more suitable, it is desirable to perform release control of the piston holding using, for example, a parameter suitable for predicting the state of the steam engine.

  As such an example, for example, the steam engine of the present invention is provided with temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of at least one of the heater and the portion in the pipe heated by the heater, and the piston holding means is One configured to perform control for releasing the holding of the piston based on the temperature detected by the detecting means is conceivable.

  By doing so, the piston holding control and the holding release control executed by the piston holding means are performed by the amount that the piston holding means executes the piston holding release control using the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. It can correspond suitably to the state of the engine.

  In this case, the piston holding means may be further configured as follows. That is, the piston holding means has a temperature detected by the temperature detecting means in advance as a temperature at which continuous reciprocation occurs in the piston due to flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by heating in the heater and cooling in the cooler. When it is detected that a predetermined temperature has been reached, control for releasing the holding of the piston may be performed.

  In this way, after the piston holding release control is performed by the piston holding means, the piston is continuously reciprocated by the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by the heating in the heater and the cooling in the cooler. Can occur. That is, the steam engine is more preferably started.

As another example of performing piston holding release control using parameters suitable for predicting the state of the steam engine, for example, the following can be considered.
That is, for example, the steam engine of the present invention is provided with pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure in the pipe, and the piston holding means is controlled to release the holding of the piston based on the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means. Can be configured.

  In this way, the piston holding control and the holding release control executed by the piston holding means are equivalent to the amount that the piston holding means executes the piston holding release control using the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means. It can correspond suitably to the state of the engine.

  In this case, the piston holding means may be further configured as follows. In other words, the piston holding means has previously detected the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means as a pressure at which continuous reciprocating motion occurs in the piston due to the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by heating in the heater and cooling in the cooler. When it is detected that a predetermined pressure has been reached, control for releasing the holding of the piston may be performed.

  In this way, after the piston holding release control is performed by the piston holding means, the piston is continuously reciprocated by the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by the heating in the heater and the cooling in the cooler. Can occur. That is, the steam engine is more preferably started.

Further, as another example of performing the piston holding release control using a parameter suitable for predicting the state of the steam engine, for example, the following may be considered.
That is, for example, the piston holding means may perform a control for releasing the holding of the piston when it is detected that a predetermined time has elapsed since the temperature raising control of the heater was started.

  In this case, for example, the “predetermined time” that is the detection target of the piston holding means is set to a time that is suitable for suitably starting the steam engine, whereby the steam engine is preferably started. Will be. That is, the piston holding control and the holding release control executed by the piston holding means can suitably correspond to the state of the steam engine.

  In this case, the “predetermined time” that is the detection target of the piston holding means is, for example, the elapsed time since the start of the temperature rise control of the heater, and the heating in the heater and the cooler A predetermined time may be set as the elapsed time during which the temperature of the heater is raised to such an extent that continuous reciprocation of the piston occurs due to the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by cooling.

  In this way, after the piston holding release control is performed by the piston holding means, the piston is continuously reciprocated by the flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by the heating in the heater and the cooling in the cooler. Can occur. That is, the steam engine is more preferably started.

  In the steam engine of the present invention, the heater may be located above the cooler. Even in this case, the above-described effects are preferably achieved.

Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a steam engine 1 according to a first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the steam engine 1 includes a pipe 10 in which a liquid such as water is sealed in a predetermined pressure state, a heater 30, a cooler 32, and an output unit 100.
The pipe 10 has a substantially U shape including two vertical extending pipes 12 and 14 extending in the vertical direction and a horizontal extending pipe 16 connecting the lower ends of the two vertical extending pipes 12 and 14. It is a pipe-shaped container formed in a letter shape. In this embodiment, the heater 30, the cooler 32, and the output unit 100 are arranged in the order of the heater 30, the cooler 32, and the output unit 100 on the pipe line formed by the pipe 10.

  The heater 30 partially heats and vaporizes the liquid in the tube 10, and is composed of, for example, a heat exchanger for heating. Moreover, the cooler 32 cools and liquefies the vapor | steam which a liquid vaporizes by the effect | action of the heater 30, for example, is comprised from the heat exchanger for cooling. The heater 30 is provided on the outer surface of the vertical extending pipe 12 in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertical extending pipe 12. The heater 30 heats the liquid inside the vertical extending tube 12 through the vertical extending tube 12. The cooler 32 is provided at a location below the heater 30 on the outer surface of the vertically extending pipe 12. The cooler 32 cools the inside of the vertically extending tube 12 through the vertically extending tube 12.

  In the present embodiment, at least the outer wall portion of the vertically extending pipe 12 where the heater 30 and the cooler 32 are installed has a thermal conductivity so that the heating by the heater 30 and the cooling by the cooler 32 can be efficiently performed. It is configured using an excellent material (for example, copper or aluminum). In addition, it is desirable to comprise the other part in the pipe | tube 10 with the raw material excellent in heat insulation.

  In the steam engine 1 of the present embodiment, when the liquid in the tube 10 is heated by the heater 30 to boil and vaporize, volume expansion occurs in the fluid in the tube 10. Next, the vapor | steam vaporized in the heater 30 moves below from the heater 30 vicinity area | region in the pipe | tube 10, is cooled with the cooler 32, and is liquefied. At this time, the fluid volume in the tube 10 is contracted. In the steam engine 1, due to the expansion and contraction of the fluid volume generated in the pipe 10 in this manner, the liquid level change (flow displacement, so-called self-excited vibration displacement) occurs in the liquid in the upper end portion 20 of the vertically extending pipe 14. Get up.

  The output unit 100 is provided at the upper end 20 of the vertically extending tube 14 that is an opening, and the liquid level change (self-excited vibration displacement) that occurs in the liquid in the upper end 20 of the vertically extending tube 14. It is configured to generate electricity in response to

  The output unit 100 includes a cylinder 102 disposed so as to communicate with the upper end 20 of the vertically extending pipe 14, a piston 104 configured to reciprocate within the cylinder 102, and one end coupled to the piston 104. A movable part 106.

  In the output unit 100, the piston 104 faces the liquid in the tube 10, and a lower end (bottom dead center) which is one end inside the tube 10 and an upper end (the other end opposite to the tube 10 side) It is driven back and forth between the top dead center). A permanent magnet (not shown) is attached to the movable portion 106. A stator 108 having a coil 108a is disposed at a position facing the permanent magnet. The piston 104 and the movable portion 106 are linearly reciprocated by receiving a change in the liquid level generated in the upper end portion 20 of the vertically extending pipe 14 as a pressure change. In the output unit 100, an electromotive force is generated in the coil 108a in the stator 108 in response to the reciprocating drive, and as a result, electric power is generated.

  In this embodiment, a controller 110 (configured by a normal computer or the like) is connected to the coil 108a. The controller 110 is configured to execute energization control on the coil 108a. Specifically, for example, the controller 110 causes the output unit 100 to function as a starter by supplying an alternating current to the coil 108a. In this case, the movable part 106 and the piston 104 reciprocate at the frequency of the alternating current due to the interaction between the coil 108a and the permanent magnet provided in the movable part 106. Then, for example, after the supply of alternating current from the controller 110 is stopped, a liquid level change (self-excited vibration displacement) occurs in the liquid in the upper end portion 20 of the vertically extending tube 14, and the liquid level change Accordingly, if the piston 104 and the movable portion 106 are reciprocated, an electromotive force is generated in the coil 108a as described above. At this time, the output unit 100 functions as a generator.

  Here, in order to start the steam engine 1 by causing the above-described self-excited vibration displacement to occur in the liquid in the upper end portion 20 of the vertically extending tube 14, the tube 10 heated by the heater 30. It is at least necessary that the liquid is present in the inner portion so that the liquid can receive heat from the heater 30. This is because the steam engine 1 is not started unless the liquid is vaporized by receiving heat supply in the pipe 10.

  Further, in order to continuously generate the above-described self-excited vibration displacement in the liquid in the upper end portion 20 of the vertically extending pipe 14 so that the steam engine 1 is preferably started, for example, the above-described self-excited Prior to the vibration displacement, the piston 104 and the movable portion 106 may be driven in an appropriate manner under the control of the controller 110.

Therefore, here, the starting process executed by the controller 110 in order to favorably start the steam engine 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This process is executed when the drive preparation process of the steam engine 1 is started, such as when the temperature rise (heating) control in the heater 30 is started or the cooling control in the cooler 32 is started.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the starting process is started, first, in S210 (“S” represents “step”), it is determined whether or not a driving condition is satisfied. Here, the drive condition is a condition for driving the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 by energizing the coil 108a.

  In the present embodiment, in S210, it is determined whether or not a predetermined set time ts has elapsed since the temperature increase control in the heater 30 was started. A case where it is determined that the set time ts has elapsed is a case where the drive condition is satisfied.

  In the present embodiment, the set time ts is an elapsed time since the temperature raising control of the heater 30 is started, and is generated in the liquid in the tube 10 by heating in the heater 30 and cooling in the cooler 32. The elapsed time for raising the temperature of the heater 30 to such a degree that continuous reciprocation between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 occurs due to the self-excited vibration displacement is set as a predetermined time. The set time ts is determined in advance as a time corresponding to the characteristics of the individual steam engines 1 through experiments and the like.

  In this embodiment, after the set time ts has elapsed, the coil 108a is energized in S220 described later, thereby causing the piston 104 to reciprocate for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the reciprocating drive of the piston 104 based on the energization of the coil 108a suitably generates a self-excited vibration displacement in the liquid in the tube 10, and the self-excited vibration displacement causes the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 to continue. It is a chance to make a reciprocating motion.

In this embodiment, the set time ts that constitutes the drive condition is set in advance in consideration of the reciprocating drive function of the piston 104 based on the energization of the coil 108a.
When it is determined in S210 that the drive condition is satisfied (S210: YES), the process proceeds to S220. On the other hand, if it is determined in S210 that the drive condition is not satisfied (S210: NO), the process of S210 is continued until it is determined that the drive condition is satisfied.

  In subsequent S220, the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 are driven by energizing the coil 108a. Specifically, for example, by supplying an alternating current to the coil 108a for a predetermined time, the piston 104 is reciprocated between a bottom dead center and a top dead center for a predetermined time, and then the starting process is performed. Exit once.

  In this embodiment, when the piston 104 is disposed at the bottom dead center, the liquid level in the vertically extending pipe 12 (see “liquid level” in FIG. 1) rises to the height of the location where the heater 30 is disposed. . And a liquid will exist in the part in the pipe | tube 10 heated by the heater 30 (part in the location of the upper end part 18 vicinity of the up-down direction extended pipe | tube 12).

Therefore, when the process of S220 is performed, the heat supply from the heater 30 to the liquid in the tube 10 is surely started.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the process of S220 raises the temperature of the heater 30 to such an extent that continuous reciprocation occurs between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10. This is executed after a set time ts has elapsed as a sufficient elapsed time.

  Therefore, after the completion of the processing of S220, the reciprocating motion continuously occurs between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10, and the power generation is executed in the output portion 100. That is, the steam engine 1 is preferably started.

In this embodiment, the controller 110 corresponds to piston control means.
[Example 2]
Next, Example 2 will be described.

The present embodiment (embodiment 2) can be said to be a modification of the aspect shown in the above embodiment 1, and in this embodiment, the description of the same parts as the above embodiment 1 will be omitted or simplified.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the steam engine 1A of the present embodiment.

This embodiment is different from the embodiment shown in the first embodiment in the following points.
That is, the steam engine 1A according to the present embodiment converts the rotating body 120 that generates the rotational driving force and the driving force from the rotating body 120 into the driving force for reciprocating motion that is the driving force of the movable portion 106 and the piston 104. The steam engine 1 according to the first embodiment is different from the steam engine 1 according to the first embodiment in that the movable portion 106 and the link mechanism 130 that transmits the piston 104 are further provided.

  Here, the rotating body 120 is configured to perform, for example, exhaust heat treatment during driving. In this case, the heater 30 is configured to heat the liquid in the tube 10 using the exhaust heat from the rotating body 120. Specifically, for example, the rotating body 120 is configured as an internal combustion engine such as an automobile engine, and performs exhaust heat treatment by discharging exhaust gas. In this case, the heater 30 heats the liquid in the pipe 10 using the thermal energy in the exhaust gas. In this way, for example, the steam engine 1 </ b> A can be driven more efficiently than when the heat is generated by the heater 30 itself and the generated heat is supplied to the liquid in the tube 10.

  Further, the link mechanism 130 is configured such that the transmission state of the driving force from the rotating body 120 to the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 can be turned on (connected state) or turned off (not connected).

  In the present embodiment, unlike the controller 110 in the first embodiment, the controller 110A outputs a control signal to the link mechanism 130, thereby changing the transmission state of the driving force from the rotating body 120 to the movable portion 106 and the piston 104. Also different from the first embodiment in that it is configured to perform control to turn it on or turn it off.

In this embodiment, the controller 110A starts the steam engine 1A by performing a process substantially similar to the start process shown in FIG.
Specifically, in S210, as in the case of the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the driving condition is satisfied. If it is determined that the drive condition is satisfied, that is, if it is determined that the set time ts has elapsed (S210: YES), the movable portion 106 is determined in S220 as in the case of the first embodiment. And the piston 104 is driven.

  However, in this embodiment, while it is determined in S210 that the driving condition is not satisfied (S210: NO), the transmission state of the driving force from the rotating body 120 to the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 is turned off. Accordingly, a control signal is output from the controller 110A to the link mechanism 130.

  In S220, a control signal is output from the controller 110A to the link mechanism 130 so that the transmission state of the driving force from the rotating body 120 to the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 is turned on for a predetermined time.

In the present embodiment, the start of the steam engine 1A is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.
In this embodiment, the controller 110A corresponds to piston control means, and the rotating body 120 corresponds to driving force generation means.
[Example 3]
Next, Example 3 will be described.

The present embodiment (embodiment 3) can be said to be a modification of the aspect shown in the above embodiment 1, and in this embodiment, the description of the same parts as the above embodiment 1 is omitted or simplified.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the steam engine 1B of the present embodiment.

This embodiment is different from the embodiment shown in the first embodiment in the following points.
That is, the steam engine 1B of the present embodiment is a sensor that detects at least one of the temperature of the heater 30 and the temperature in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30. It differs from the steam engine 1 of Example 1 by the point provided with 140. FIG.

  In this embodiment, the controller 110B is connected to the sensor 140, unlike the controller 110 in the first embodiment. The controller 110B starts the steam engine 1B by performing a process substantially similar to the start process shown in FIG. 2 based on the temperature detected by the sensor 140.

  Specifically, in S210, as in the case of the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the driving condition is satisfied. If it is determined that the drive condition is satisfied (S210: YES), the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 are driven in S220, as in the case of the first embodiment.

However, in this embodiment, in S210, whether or not the drive condition is satisfied is determined based on the detection signal from the sensor 140.
Specifically, for example, the controller 110B determines whether the temperature detected by the sensor 140 has reached a predetermined set temperature Tx based on a detection signal from the sensor 140. The case where it is determined that the set temperature Tx has been reached is the case where the drive condition is satisfied (S210: YES).

  In this embodiment, the set temperature Tx is continuously reciprocated between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 by the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10 by the heating in the heater 30 and the cooling in the cooler 32. A predetermined temperature is set as a temperature sufficient to get up. This set temperature Tx is determined in advance as a temperature corresponding to the characteristics of the individual steam engines 1B through experiments and the like.

  As described in the description of the first embodiment, the reciprocating drive of the piston 104 based on the energization of the coil 108a executed in the subsequent S220 causes the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 to continuously reciprocate thereafter. It becomes a trigger. Accordingly, the set temperature Tx that constitutes the driving condition is set in advance, for example, considering such a side surface.

  Here, when the sensor 140 detects one of the temperature of the heater 30 and the temperature in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30. The set temperature Tx can be set to correspond to this one temperature.

  Further, when the sensor 140 detects both the temperature of the heater 30 and the temperature in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30, the setting is made. The temperature Tx is set, for example, as a combination Tx (Tx1, Tx2) of both temperatures when the self-excited vibration displacement occurs.

  Next, in S220, energization is performed from the controller 110B to the coil 108a, so that the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 are driven as in the case of the first embodiment.

Therefore, also in the present embodiment, when the process of S220 is performed, the heat supply from the heater 30 to the liquid in the tube 10 is surely started.
In addition, in this embodiment, the process of S220 is performed so that the continuous reciprocation of the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 occurs due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10. It is executed after the temperature in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the vessel 30 rises.

  Therefore, after the completion of the processing of S220, the reciprocating motion continuously occurs between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10, and the power generation is executed in the output portion 100. That is, the steam engine 1B is preferably started.

Here, in this embodiment, the controller 110B corresponds to the piston control means, and the sensor 140 corresponds to the temperature detection means.
In the present embodiment, the sensor 140 is configured as a temperature detection sensor, but the sensor 140 may be in other forms.

  For example, the sensor 140 may be a sensor that detects the pressure in the tube 10. In this case, for example, in S210, the controller 110B determines whether or not the pressure detected by the sensor 140 has reached a predetermined set pressure Px based on the detection signal from the sensor 140, and sets the set pressure. The case where it is determined that Px has been reached is the case where the drive condition is satisfied (S210: YES).

  This set pressure Px is sufficient to cause a continuous reciprocating motion between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 due to self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10 by heating in the heater 30 and cooling in the cooler 32, for example. The pressure is a predetermined pressure. This set pressure Px is determined in advance as a pressure corresponding to the characteristics of each steam engine 1B through experiments or the like.

  As described in the description of the first embodiment, the reciprocating drive of the piston 104 based on the energization of the coil 108a executed in the subsequent S220 causes the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 to continuously reciprocate thereafter. It becomes a trigger. Accordingly, the set pressure Px that constitutes the driving condition is set in advance, for example, considering such a side surface.

  Even in this case, when the process of S220 in which the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 are driven is performed, the heat supply from the heater 30 to the liquid in the tube 10 is reliably started.

  In addition, in this case, the process of S220 increases the pressure in the tube 10 to such an extent that continuous reciprocation occurs between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10. Is executed from.

  Therefore, after the completion of the processing of S220, the reciprocating motion continuously occurs between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10, and the power generation is executed in the output portion 100. That is, the steam engine 1B is preferably started.

In this case, the sensor 140 corresponds to a pressure detection unit.
On the other hand, the controller 110B according to the present embodiment may have the same function as the controller 110A according to the second embodiment.

  That is, the steam engine 1B of the present embodiment is configured to further include the rotating body 120 and the link mechanism 130 shown in FIG. Then, the controller 110B outputs a control signal to the link mechanism 130 in the same manner as the controller 110A, thereby turning on or off the transmission state of the driving force from the rotating body 120 to the movable portion 106 and the piston 104. It is configured to perform control.

  In this case, in S210, while a negative determination is made (S210: NO), that is, until the temperature detected by the sensor 140 reaches the set temperature Tx (or the pressure detected by the sensor 140 is set). Until the pressure Px is reached), the controller 110B outputs a control signal to the link mechanism 130 in order to turn off the transmission state of the driving force from the rotating body 120 to the movable portion 106 and the piston 104.

  In S220, as in the second embodiment, the controller 110B controls the link mechanism 130 to turn on the transmission state of the driving force from the rotating body 120 to the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 for a predetermined time. A signal is output.

Even in this case, after the process of S220 is completed, the reciprocating motion continuously occurs in the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10, and the output portion 100 generates power. Executed. That is, the steam engine 1B is preferably started.
[Example 4]
Next, Example 4 will be described.

The present embodiment (embodiment 4) can be said to be a modification of the aspect shown in the above embodiment 1, and in this embodiment, the description of the same parts as the above embodiment 1 is omitted or simplified.
This embodiment is different from the embodiment shown in the first embodiment in the following points.

That is, the steam engine of the present embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that the controller 110 executes the drive process shown in FIG. 5 instead of the start process shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, the controller 110 and the output unit 100 can also perform control (brake control) to hold the positions of the piston 104 and the movable unit 106 at fixed positions by sending control signals from the controller 110 to the output unit 100. It is comprised so that.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the steam engine is stopped, the piston 104 in the output unit 100 is disposed on the bottom dead center side by its own weight. Thus, in this embodiment, when the steam engine is stopped, liquid is present in a portion in the tube 10 heated by the heater 30 (a portion in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending tube 12). Will do.

Here, the driving process executed by the controller 110 so that the steam engine is suitably driven will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This process is executed when the steam engine drive preparation process is started, such as the temperature rise (heating) control in the heater 30 is started or the cooling control in the cooler 32 is started.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the driving process is started, first, in S310, control is performed to maintain the state where the piston 104 is disposed on the bottom dead center side.
Specifically, a control signal is output from the controller 110 to the output unit 100 so as to hold the position of the piston 104 disposed on the bottom dead center side by its own weight by brake control when the steam engine is stopped.

  Therefore, when the process of S310 is performed, the liquid level reaches the portion in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30, and the liquid is reliably supplied to this portion. It will exist. And the liquid in the location near the upper end part 18 of the up-down direction extension pipe | tube 12 heated by the heater 30 receives heat supply stably from the heater 30 in temperature rising.

Next, in S320, it is determined whether or not a holding release condition is satisfied. Here, the holding release condition is a condition for releasing the brake control performed in S310.
In the present embodiment, in S320, it is determined whether or not a predetermined set time tc has elapsed since the temperature increase control in the heater 30 was started. A case where it is determined that the set time tc has elapsed is a case where the holding release condition is satisfied.

  In the present embodiment, the set time tc is an elapsed time from the start of the temperature rise control of the heater 30, and is generated in the liquid in the tube 10 by heating in the heater 30 and cooling in the cooler 32. The elapsed time for raising the temperature of the heater 30 to such a degree that continuous reciprocation between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 occurs due to the self-excited vibration displacement is set as a predetermined time. The set time tc is determined in advance as a time corresponding to the characteristics of each steam engine through experiments or the like.

  In the present embodiment, since the brake control for the piston 104 is executed in S310, the position in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30 until the holding release condition is satisfied. The liquid is efficiently heated by the heater 30 and vaporized one after another.

  In other words, in this embodiment, the brake control for the piston 104 is executed and the position of the piston 104 is held, so that compared to the case where such a brake control is not executed, the pipe is released before the holding release condition is satisfied. A relatively large amount of high-pressure steam is generated in 10.

  When the brake control for the piston 104 is released in S330, which will be described later, the pressure from a relatively large amount of high-pressure steam vaporized by the heater 30 causes the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 to continuously reciprocate. Acts as a driving force to induce.

In the present embodiment, the set time tc that constitutes the holding release condition is set in advance, for example, in consideration of the driving force by such high-pressure steam.
If it is determined in S320 that the hold release condition is satisfied (S320: YES), the process proceeds to S330. On the other hand, if it is determined in S320 that the hold release condition is not satisfied (S320: NO), the process of S320 is continued until it is determined that the hold release condition is satisfied.

In the subsequent S330, the brake control for the piston 104 executed in S310 is canceled by outputting a control signal to the output unit 100, and the driving process is temporarily terminated.
When the processing of S330 is completed, continuous reciprocation of the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 occurs due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10, and power generation is executed in the output portion 100. That is, the steam engine is preferably started.

  Specifically, the brake control release process of S330 increases the temperature of the heater 30 to such an extent that continuous reciprocation between the movable part 106 and the piston 104 occurs due to the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe 10. It is executed after a set time tc as a sufficient elapsed time.

Therefore, when the process of S330 is completed, the steam engine is preferably started by the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe 10.
And after the process of S330, after the electric power generation process by a steam engine is continued only for the desired time, for example, the said heat processing in the heater 30 and the cooling process in the cooler 32 are stopped, The said steam engine becomes Stopped.

  That is, no self-excited vibration displacement occurs in the tube 10 and the driving of the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 is stopped. At that time, the piston 104 stops in a state where it is disposed on the bottom dead center side by its own weight.

Here, in this embodiment, the controller 110 corresponds to the piston holding means.
Note that the controller 110 in this embodiment may be connected to the sensor 140 like the controller 110B shown in FIG. The sensor 140 detects, for example, at least one of the temperature of the heater 30 and the temperature in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30. Also good.

  In this case, the controller 110 starts the steam engine by performing a process substantially similar to the drive process shown in FIG. 5 based on the temperature detected by the sensor 140.

  The driving process in this case will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 6 in addition to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the detected value by the sensor 140 and the execution state of the brake control for the piston 104 in relation to time.

  In this case, substantially the same processing as S310 to S330 shown in FIG. 5 is performed. However, whether or not the holding release condition is satisfied in S320 is executed based on a detection signal from the sensor 140.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, when the brake control for the piston 104 is started at the time ta1 when the processing of S310 is started (brake control: ON), the temperature detected by the sensor 140 is previously set. This brake control is continued until time ta2 when the set temperature Ty is reached. At time ta2, this brake control is released (brake control: OFF).

That is, in S320, the case where it is determined that the temperature detected by the sensor 140 has reached the set temperature Ty is the case where the holding release condition is satisfied (S320: YES).
Here, the set temperature Ty is continuously reciprocated between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 by, for example, self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10 by heating in the heater 30 and cooling in the cooler 32. The temperature is a predetermined temperature. This set temperature Ty is determined in advance as a temperature corresponding to the characteristics of each steam engine through experiments and the like.

  As described above, a relatively large amount of high-pressure steam is generated in the pipe 10 while the brake control for the piston 104 is being executed. When the brake control for the piston 104 is released in S330, the pressure from the relatively large amount of high-pressure steam functions as a driving force that induces continuous reciprocation between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104. Accordingly, the set temperature Ty that constitutes the holding release condition is set in advance, for example, in consideration of the driving force by such high-pressure steam.

  Here, when the sensor 140 detects one of the temperature of the heater 30 and the temperature in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30. The set temperature Ty can be set to correspond to one of these temperatures.

  Further, when the sensor 140 detects both the temperature of the heater 30 and the temperature in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30, the setting is made. The temperature Ty is set, for example, as a combination Ty (Ty1, Ty2) of both temperatures when the self-excited vibration displacement occurs.

  Even when processing is performed based on the temperature detected by the sensor 140 as described above, the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 are caused by the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe 10 when the processing of S330 is completed. Thus, continuous reciprocation occurs, and the output unit 100 generates power. That is, the steam engine is preferably started.

  And after the process of S330, after the electric power generation process by a steam engine is continued only for the desired time, for example, the said heat processing in the heater 30 and the cooling process in the cooler 32 are stopped, The said steam engine becomes Stopped.

  That is, for example, after time ta3 (see FIG. 6) when the temperature detected by the sensor 140 falls below the set temperature Ty (not limited to Ty), self-excited vibration displacement does not occur in the tube 10, and the movable part The driving of the piston 106 and the piston 104 is stopped. At that time, the piston 104 stops in a state where it is disposed on the bottom dead center side by its own weight.

Here, in this case, the controller 110 corresponds to the piston holding means, and the sensor 140 corresponds to the temperature detection means.
The sensor 140 is not limited to a temperature detection sensor, and may be in another form.

For example, the sensor 140 may be a sensor that detects the pressure in the tube 10. Also in this case, processing substantially similar to S310 to S330 shown in FIG. 5 is performed.
However, in this case, in S320, when it is determined that the pressure detected by the sensor 140 has reached the set pressure Py based on the detection signal from the sensor 140, the hold release condition is satisfied (S320: YES). , Process.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, when the brake control for the piston 104 is started at the time ta1 when the process of S310 is started (brake control: ON), the pressure detected by the sensor 140 is previously set. This brake control is continued until time ta2 when the set pressure Py is reached. At time ta2, this brake control is released (brake control: OFF).

  Here, the set pressure Py is continuously reciprocated between the movable part 106 and the piston 104 by, for example, self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10 by heating in the heater 30 and cooling in the cooler 32. As a pressure sufficient for the pressure, a predetermined pressure is used. This set pressure Py is determined in advance as a pressure corresponding to the characteristics of each steam engine through experiments and the like.

  As described above, a relatively large amount of high-pressure steam is generated in the pipe 10 while the brake control for the piston 104 is being executed. When the brake control for the piston 104 is released in S330, the pressure from the relatively large amount of high-pressure steam functions as a driving force that induces continuous reciprocation between the movable portion 106 and the piston 104. Accordingly, the set pressure Py that constitutes the holding release condition is set in advance, for example, in consideration of the driving force by such high-pressure steam.

  Even when the processing is performed based on the pressure detected by the sensor 140 in this way, the movable portion 106 and the piston 104 are caused by the self-excited vibration displacement generated in the liquid in the tube 10 when the processing of S330 is completed. Thus, continuous reciprocation occurs, and the output unit 100 generates power. That is, the steam engine is preferably started.

  And after the process of S330, after the electric power generation process by a steam engine is continued only for the desired time, for example, the said heat processing in the heater 30 and the cooling process in the cooler 32 are stopped, The said steam engine becomes Stopped.

  That is, for example, after time ta3 (see FIG. 6) when the pressure detected by the sensor 140 falls below the set pressure Py (not limited to Py), self-excited vibration displacement does not occur in the tube 10, and the movable part The driving of the piston 106 and the piston 104 is stopped. At that time, the piston 104 stops in a state where it is disposed on the bottom dead center side by its own weight.

Here, in this case, the controller 110 corresponds to the piston holding means, and the sensor 140 corresponds to the pressure detection means.
[Example 5]
Next, Example 5 will be described.

The present embodiment (embodiment 5) can be said to be a modification of the aspect shown in the above embodiment 4. In this embodiment, the description of the same portions as the above embodiment 4 is omitted or simplified.
This embodiment is different from the embodiment shown in the fourth embodiment in the following points.

That is, the steam engine according to the present embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that the controller 110 executes the drive process shown in FIG. 7 instead of the drive process shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, the piston 104 in the output unit 100 is not arranged on the bottom dead center side by its own weight when the steam engine is stopped. When the steam engine is stopped, the piston 104 is disposed on the bottom dead center side based on a control signal from the controller 110 and is held at that position (S350 in FIG. 7 (described later)). The present embodiment is also different from the fourth embodiment in this respect.

Here, the driving process executed by the controller 110 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Among the driving processes shown in FIG. 7, S310 to S330 are the same processes as S310 to S330 shown in FIG.

In subsequent S340, it is determined whether or not a stop condition, which is a condition for temporarily stopping power generation by the steam engine, is established.
The stop condition is determined to be satisfied when the self-excited vibration displacement is not suitably generated in the pipe 10 in order to stop the steam engine.

  Specifically, for example, the controller 110 is configured to detect the amount of power generated by the output unit 100. In this case, for example, the heating process in the heater 30 and the cooling process in the cooler 32 are stopped, and the self-excited vibration displacement is not preferably generated in the tube 10. A point in time when the controller 110 detects that the amount has fallen below a predetermined threshold is a point in time when the stop condition is satisfied.

  If it is determined in S340 that the stop condition is satisfied (S340: YES), the process proceeds to S350. On the other hand, if it is determined in S340 that the stop condition is not satisfied (S340: NO), the process of S340 is continued until it is determined that the stop condition is satisfied.

  In S350, by outputting a control signal to the output unit 100, the piston 104 is disposed on the bottom dead center side. Next, the position of the piston 104 is held by brake control. And the said drive process is once complete | finished, maintaining the brake control with respect to the piston 104. FIG. When the process of S310 is executed in the next flow, the piston 104 holding process started in S350 of the previous flow is continuously executed without being released.

  In this embodiment, since the piston 104 is disposed on the bottom dead center side in S350 and the position thereof is maintained, when the steam engine is stopped, the portion in the pipe 10 heated by the heater 30 (up and down) The liquid surely exists in a portion in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the direction extending pipe 12. This state is maintained until the steam engine is started again.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, at the time of starting the steam engine (S310), the liquid surely exists in the portion in the vicinity of the upper end portion 18 of the vertically extending pipe 12 heated by the heater 30. become. Therefore, a relatively large amount of high-pressure steam is generated in the pipe 10 until the hold release condition (S320) is satisfied. When the brake control for the piston 104 is released in S330, the steam engine is It is preferably started.

  Here, in this embodiment, the controller 110 corresponds to the piston holding means and the piston position setting means. Specifically, S310 to S330 correspond to processing as a piston holding unit, and S350 corresponds to processing as a piston position setting unit.

The controller 110 in the present embodiment may also be connected to the sensor 140 in the same manner as described in the description regarding the fourth embodiment.
In this case, the controller 110 drives the steam engine by performing a process substantially similar to the drive process shown in FIG. 7 based on the temperature or pressure detected by the sensor 140.

  The driving process in this case will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 8 in addition to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the value detected by the sensor 140 and the execution state of the brake control for the piston 104 in relation to time.

  In this case, processing substantially similar to S310 to S350 shown in FIG. 7 is performed. However, whether or not the holding release condition is satisfied in S320 and whether or not the stop condition is satisfied in S340 are executed based on the detection signal from the sensor 140.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, at the time tb1 when the process of S310 is started, the brake control of the piston 104 started in S350 of the previous flow is continuously executed without being released ( Brake control: ON).

  This brake control is performed until the hold release condition (S320) is satisfied, that is, until time tb2 when the temperature detected by the sensor 140 reaches the set temperature Ty that forms the hold release condition (or detected by the sensor 140). (Until time tb2 when the set pressure reaches the set pressure Py that constitutes the holding release condition).

Then, at time tb2 when the hold release condition is satisfied (S320: YES), this brake control is released (brake control: OFF, S330).
After the elapse of time tb2, for example, the heating process in the heater 30 and the cooling process in the cooler 32 are stopped, and the piston is continued until the time tb3, which is a time when the self-excited vibration displacement does not suitably occur in the liquid in the tube 10. The state where the brake control for 104 is released is maintained, and power generation in the steam engine is continued.

  Specifically, the brake control is released until the stop condition (S340) is satisfied, that is, for example, the set temperature Ty at which the temperature detected by the sensor 140 satisfies the stop condition (not limited to Ty). Is continued until time tb3 that falls below (or until time tb3 when the pressure detected by the sensor 140 falls below the set pressure Py (not limited to Py) that constitutes a stop condition).

  At time tb3 when the stop condition is satisfied (S340: YES), the piston 104 is arranged on the bottom dead center side, and in this state, the brake control for the piston 104 is started again (brake control: ON, S350). . And a process is once complete | finished, maintaining the brake control with respect to piston 104. FIG.

In this case, the set temperature Ty and the set pressure Py are set in the same manner as the set temperature Ty and the set pressure Py described in the description of the fourth embodiment.
Even when the driving process of FIG. 7 is performed based on the temperature or pressure detected by the sensor 140 as described above, the piston 104 is held on the bottom dead center side when the steam engine is started (S310). Until the hold release condition (S320) is satisfied, a relatively large amount of high-pressure steam is generated in the pipe 10. When the brake control for the piston 104 is released in S330, the steam engine is preferably started.

  In this case, the controller 110 corresponds to piston holding means and piston position setting means, and the sensor 140 corresponds to temperature detection means or pressure detection means.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a steam engine according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart showing the starting process of an Example. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the steam engine of Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the steam engine of Example 3. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a driving process according to the fourth embodiment. It is a timing chart which showed the detection value by a sensor, and the execution state of brake control to a piston in relation to time about Example 4. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a driving process according to a fifth embodiment. It is a timing chart which showed the detection value by a sensor, and the execution state of brake control to a piston in relation to time about Example 5. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the conventional steam engine.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A, 1B ... Steam engine, 10 ... Pipe, 12, 14 ... Vertical extension pipe, 16 ... Left-right extension pipe, 18, 20 ... Upper end part, 30 ... Heater, 32 ... Cooler, 100 ... Output part 102 ... Cylinder 104 ... Piston 106 ... Movable part 108 ... Stator 108a ... Coil 110, 110A, 110B ... Controller 120 ... Rotating body 130 ... Link mechanism 140 ... Sensor

Claims (10)

A tube filled with liquid;
A heater for heating the liquid in the tube;
A cooler that cools the vapor formed by vaporizing the liquid by heating in the heater;
A piston that is reciprocally driven between one end inside the tube and the other end opposite to the inside of the tube in a state of facing the liquid in the tube, and vaporizing and cooling the liquid by heating in the heater An output part for taking out as a mechanical energy flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by liquefaction of steam by cooling in the vessel;
Piston control means for performing drive control of the piston;
A steam engine comprising:
The heater, the cooler, and the output unit are arranged in the order of the heater, the cooler, and the output unit on a pipeline formed by the pipe,
The piston is arranged on one end side inside the tube, so that liquid is present in a portion in the tube heated by the heater,
The piston control means performs drive control to reciprocate the piston between one end inside the pipe and the other end opposite to the pipe inside for a predetermined time when the steam engine is started. By arranging the piston on one end side inside the tube, a liquid is present in a portion in the tube heated by the heater ,
Furthermore, by disposing the piston on one end side inside the pipe when the steam engine is stopped, at the time of starting the steam engine, the liquid is present in the portion heated by the heater. A steam engine characterized by comprising piston position setting means . The steam engine according to claim 1 .
The piston position setting means includes
When the steam engine is stopped, the piston is disposed on one end side inside the pipe, and then the piston is heated by the heater at the time of starting the steam engine by controlling the position of the piston. A steam engine characterized in that liquid is present in a portion in the pipe. A tube filled with liquid;
A heater for heating the liquid in the tube;
A cooler that cools the vapor formed by vaporizing the liquid by heating in the heater;
A piston that is reciprocally driven between one end inside the tube and the other end opposite to the inside of the tube in a state of facing the liquid in the tube, and vaporizing and cooling the liquid by heating in the heater An output part for taking out as a mechanical energy flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by liquefaction of steam by cooling in the vessel;
Piston control means for performing drive control of the piston;
A steam engine comprising:
The heater, the cooler, and the output unit are arranged in the order of the heater, the cooler, and the output unit on a pipeline formed by the pipe,
The piston is arranged on one end side inside the tube, so that liquid is present in a portion in the tube heated by the heater,
The piston control means performs drive control to reciprocate the piston between one end inside the pipe and the other end opposite to the pipe inside for a predetermined time when the steam engine is started. By arranging the piston on one end side inside the tube, a liquid is present in a portion in the tube heated by the heater ,
Furthermore, when the steam engine is stopped, the piston is disposed on one end side inside the pipe by its own weight, so that when the steam engine is started, liquid is present in a portion in the pipe heated by the heater. A steam engine characterized by being configured to The steam engine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A steam engine comprising: a piston holding unit that performs control to hold at least a state where the piston is disposed on one end side inside the pipe at the time of starting the steam engine. The steam engine according to claim 4 .
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of at least one of the heater and the portion in the tube heated by the heater;
The piston holding means is
A steam engine characterized by performing control to release the piston from the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. The steam engine according to claim 5 .
The piston holding means is
The temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is predetermined as a temperature at which continuous reciprocating motion occurs in the piston due to flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by heating in the heater and cooling in the cooler. A steam engine characterized by performing control for releasing the holding of the piston when it is detected that the temperature has been reached. The steam engine according to claim 4 .
Pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure in the pipe,
The piston holding means is
A steam engine characterized by performing a control for releasing the holding of the piston based on the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means. The steam engine according to claim 7 .
The piston holding means is
The pressure detected by the pressure detecting means is predetermined as a pressure at which continuous reciprocating motion occurs in the piston due to flow displacement generated in the liquid in the pipe by heating in the heater and cooling in the cooler. A steam engine that performs control to release the holding of the piston when it is detected that the pressure has been reached. The steam engine according to claim 4 .
The piston holding means is
A steam engine characterized by performing a control to release the holding of the piston when it is detected that a predetermined time has passed since the temperature raising control of the heater was started. The steam engine according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
The steam engine, wherein the heater is located above the cooler.